The Ancient and Honorable Order of Turtles ("International Association of Turtles", "Turtle Club",[1] or similar title) started as an informal "drinking club" between World War II pilots, self-described as "an honorable drinking fraternity composed of ladies and gentlemen of the highest morals and good character, who are never vulgar."

To gain admission, one must answer four from a list of about twenty-five qualifying questions. Each question suggests a vulgar, lewd, or salacious answer, but the actual correct answer is rather innocuous. Once inducted, a member must reply to the question, "Are you a turtle?" with "You bet your sweet ass I am." Otherwise, the member must buy the questioner a drink.[1][3] It is assumed that all prospective turtles own a diabetic donkey, or one of a sweet and kindly disposition, which is the reason for this password. If the member is unable or unwilling (perhaps because of the restriction on vulgarity) to provide the correct answer, he or she owes to each other turtle present a drink of the recipient's choice. A large part of the tradition of the order involves the qualifying questions that prospective members have to answer. These fun questions are actually small riddles: each suggests a vulgar or lewd answer, but the candidate has to provide a completely innocuous answer.

A popular example would be the question:

What does a woman do sitting down, that a dog does on three legs, and a man does standing up?

The obvious answer to this question would be "pee" or "urinate", but the correct answer is "shake hands" (as western etiquette demands that a man needs to rise from his seat to shake hands, while a woman needs not).

What does a cow have four of and woman only two?

What is a four letter word ending in K that means to have intercourse?

What is it on a man that is round and hard, and sticks so far out his pajamas that you can hang a hat on it?

A candidate must answer four from a list of twenty-five of such questions.[4] While there is a traditional set of questions, some modern clubs also make up new initiation questions along the same lines.

During the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission (part of the United Statesspace program), astronaut Wally Schirra was asked by a ground controller whether he was a turtle. Not wanting to use vulgar language while his communications were being broadcast worldwide, he temporarily stopped transmitting while he gave the required response.

Deke Slayton, a mere 3 minutes into Sigma 7's flight, came on the radio, which was open for everyone to hear, and asked, "Hey, Wally, are you a turtle?" Schirra switched his mic from live to record and uttered the appropriate response. On the open line, he said, "Rog."[5]

Later, on board the recovery ship USS Kearsarge, in front of Slayton, Walt Williams and the other astronauts, Walt Williams demanded to know how Schirra replied to Deke's question. Schirra played the recorder. "Hey, Wally, are you a turtle?" followed by the proper response.[3] This incident is also recounted in Tom Wolfe's book The Right Stuff.[6]

Wally Schirra's membership in the Ancient Order of Turtles came up again during Apollo 7, which was captured by the in-flight recorder:

A short while later, CAPCOM Cernan informed Schirra, "Wally, this is Gene. Deke just called in, and we've got your answer, and we've got it recorded for you return." Schirra acknowledged, "Roger. Real fine."

This exchange about turtles was a reference to the notorious Turtle's Club drinking club of which Wally Schirra held the title of a Grand Potentate. During Schirra's Mercury flight Deke Slayton had radioed up to Schirra asking Schirra if he was a turtle.[7]

President Kennedy was allegedly asked if he was a Turtle at a press conference, to which he replied, "I'll buy you your drink later."[2]

In the movie Master of Disguise starring Dana Carvey, he says in a scene, "Am I not turtley enough for the turtle club?" [8]

In 1969, Dial Records released the 45rpm single "Are You a Turtle" by rock/soul group The Brotherhood, fronted by Ben Thayer. The single (Dial #4092) became a regional hit in the Southeast.[9]

In the novel Timequake, Kurt Vonnegut tells John Hickenlooper (son of one of Vonnegut's fraternity brothers) of their asking for the password during "solemn and sacred occasion[s], such as the swearing in of new fraternity brothers."

On Dick Whittinghill's radio show on KMPC in Los Angeles, one of his recurring gags was a sound bite of someone asking, "Are you a turtle?"

The term Turtle Based Organization (TBO) refers to groups that have formed based on the original order founded by Hugh P. McGowan and the 12 other bomber pilots in his squadron. After its founding in 1943, with no constitution or formal mission besides initiating new members, the unincorporated order gave way to several spin-offs or independent groups based around the original organization. Though all of these groups paid homage the original order, and maintained use of the ritual, secret sign, and password, they functioned under names such as the "International Turtle Club", "International Association of Turtles" and etc. With the dawn of the internet and social media a new wave of "Turtles" appeared thanks to the smart thinking of the honorable Bro. Samuel Thornton and the Worldwide Fraternity Of Turtles (WFOT). Bro. Samuel Thornton gleaned the information from the web and began recruiting Masons, Eastern Stars and other fun people of good character. It wasn't until 2009 with the founding of the Worldwide Fraternity of Turtles, that chapters begin to form under one grand body in the United States.[citation needed]

There are several groups that claim to be the "original" or "authentic" Turtles but the WFOT was the first to make Turtledom into a household word. In 2009, the Worldwide Fraternity Of Turtles (WFOT) opened chapters around the US and the world (overseas at US military bases). The WFOT then organized turtle parties every month, planned community service events and held annual conventions. Now the WFOT has more spinoff groups following the new tradition of local chapters and a national or grand body.[10] The Worldwide Fraternity of Turtles (WFOT) under the direction of the honorable Bro. Samuel Thornton transformed Turtledom into a global charitable organization with chapters (called ponds) in over 100 cities worldwide.[citation needed]